Handlamp switch



June 17 1924.

A. L. STAPLES HANDLAMP SWITCH Filed Feb. 21 1921 2 SheeLs-Sheet l June 17, 1924. 1,498,330

A. L. STAPLES HANDLAMP SWITCH Filed Feb. 21 19?.) 2 Sheets-Shee1 2 Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR L. STAPLES, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

HANDLAMP SWITCH.

Application filed February 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. STAPLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Handlamp Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to portable electric lamps comprising a casing, a battery and an incandescent lamp mounted therein, and a contact device on the casing by which th flow of current from the battery through the lamp may be controlled at will.

In a portable lamp of this character, it is desirable that the user shall be able to flash the lamp, that is, light it for short periods of time, as in signaling, or for such length of time as it is convenient for the operator to hold his thumb on the contact device. It is also desirable that means be provided for closing the switch to light the lamp for a longer period of time and without the need for continuous thumb pressure on the contact mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand lamp with a contact mechanism so arranged that the lamp can be flashed or can be permanently lighted, as desired, but with the additional feature that the contact mechanism cannot be locked in closed-circuit position through accidental pressure on th contact device. This permits the hand lamp to be carried about with tools or in the ocket of an auto-mobile door without the anger that when the lamp is needed its battery will be found exhausted because, through accident, the switch has been closed and th lamp has been lighted without the knowledge of the user.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, which is to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a handlamp constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken view in central vertical section partly in elevation on the line 2 '2 of Fig. 1 showing the circuit closing device in open circuit position.

Serial No. 446,735.

Fig. 3 is a similar view in closed circuit position.

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4.& of Fig. 2, with the battery removedto show the inner side of th circuit closing device.

Fig. 5 is a similar view in transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken view in elevation of the circuit closing device of an alternative form of my invention.

Fig. 7 is a similar view in vertical section partly in elevation on the line 77 of Fig. 6 showing the circuit closing device in its open circuit position.

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7, in closed circuit position.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged broken view of the inner side of the circuit closing device.

Fig. 10 isa transverse section on the line 1010 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6 of another alternative form of my invention.

Fig. 12 is a view thereof corresponding to Fig.7.

Fig. 13 is a view in transverse section on the line 1313 of Fig. 12. a

Fig. 14 is a view in transverse section on the line 1414 of Fig. 12.

In carrying out my invention, as herein shown, I employ a sheet metal escutcheon plate 20 rigidly mounted by means of rivets 21 over an opening 22 in the side of an insulating casing 23. An aperture 24 is formed centrally in the escutcheon and is filled flush by a correspondingly shaped push-button 25 struck up from a sheet metal spring contact 26- positioned against the under surface of the escutcheon 20 and rigidly attached at its rear end thereto by a rivet 27. Forward of the button 25, the spring contact 26 is bent inward and forward to lie fiat against the inner surface of the casing 28 and extends nearly to the forward end thereof. In the preferred form of myinvention shown in Fig. 1 the spring contact 26 is formed with an inward how 28 which prevents the battery 29, positioned within the casing, from interfering with the contact device and also increases the length of the spring 26 between the rivet 27 and the push-button 25. In the alternative form shown in Figs. 6,'through 10, there is no battery positioning means and in the form shown in Figs. l114 there is a battery positioning. spring 30 separate from the springcontact 26, held in. place by the rivet 27.

g In the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 and 7, the escutcheon lies flat, but in the alternative form shown in Fig. 12 it is raised centrally to simulate the housings employed in hand-lamp contact-devices of the prior art.

The escutcheon plate 20 is slotted asshown at: 3: in the preferredferinin; Figs. Land 11 at each side of the central opening 24;, or, as, shown at. 32 in. an alternative form. F ig. 9v forwardly of the. opening. 24: for the reception of a longitudinally slidable. lock.

per edge a knurled operating. portion. 36.

while the central part of the. upper edge is depressed to lie below the surface. of-the p'ush button 26 which the slide traverses. In eachend of the lockare longitudinalhorizontal slots 37 receiving the. metal. ofthe escutcheon 20 at the outer ends of thefslots 31 whereby the lock is'held slidably in place.

.In the alternative form, shown inFigs. 8.

and 9, the lock has hollow knurled thumbpiece 38 the side walls of which extend down through the twin slots 32 of. the

escutcheon 20 and areformed with lugs 39 which are bent inwardly embracing theporti'on of theescutcheon between the slots 32 and also the'narrowed central part of the body 40 of the sheet metal locking lug 34.. By this construction the slide comprisin' the thumb-piece 38 and the locl 34 is helc together and in place.

In the forward end. of the tube is positioned a reflector ll of well known form having an insulating strip 42 folded about its outer edge and an electric bulb' l3 mounted in its center, the outer terminal of the.

bulb beingin contact with the reflector and the inner termlnal in contact with the pos1- tive electrode i l of the battery '29. On the exterior surface of the tube 23. at. its. forward end 18 rigidly mounted the customary threaded metal ring 45 upon which is.

screwed the threaded metal lens mount 46 in which the lens t? is held between the spun in collars' l8 and 49. The reflector is held in place by having its outer edge gripped between the end of the tube 23 and V the lens supportingcollar 48 andis insulated;

from both by the strip 42.

On the rear end of the tube is thecustomary construction 1-521 threaded metal ring 50 rigidly mounted on the tube 23, a sheet metal threaded cap 51 screwed thereon and the spiral metal spring 52 interposed between the naked base of the nega-tive pole-of the battery 29 and the cap 51.

A metal conductor strip 53 is hooked over the rear endof. the. tube 23 under the ring 50' and in electrical contact therewith and extends forward along the inner surface of thetube and is held inpl ace by one of the rivets 21, which; also connects. it electrically to the escutcheon plate 20. In thepreferred form, shown in Fig. 2, the strip 53 terminates just forwardof the rivet 21. In the alternative. (lOllSblU-QtlOIl, shown in Figs. 7 and, 12, the strip. 53 extends nearly to the front: endof the tube and is further held in place; by a rivet. 54 which is one of the fast.- enings' of the ring &5; In this construction all of the exposed metal parts of the case are; electrically connected to the negative pole; of thebattery and therefore, sincethey are-all, .0f.onepolarity, thebattery cannot he accidentally short-circuited byegrternal con tact of the case withiconductive bodies. The; preferred form, shown in Fig. 2 issimilar in this respect. except forthe fact that the front ringer). and the. lens support 46 are normallyelectrically dead. I

In the; preferred form, shown in Fig. 2, the construction is now completely described.

'Hfowe-ver, under some circumstances it is thoughtbetterto give further support against lateral distortion of the contact spring-,26. In the. alternative form, shown in Figs. 8 and 12, the contact spring 26.is formed near itsforwardendwith a guide slot 55 which receives a vertical guide. lug 56 dependent from an integral rivet 57 setin the tube 23 under the ring l5.

When, in use, the push-button 25 is depressed, the spring 26 yields and the outer end. thereof contacts with the reflector 41 closing the electrical circuit. through the lamp, which lights and remains lit as long as. thepush-button is depressed. the Spring contact 26 has moved sufiiciently to. bring the;ed'ges of the slot 35. below the lug; 34.; 9; forward push on the knurled parts 36 or 38 while the push-button is held 7 down willeausethelug 34 to move forward overt-he spring26 in front of the slot-.35 and to holdthe same depressed until the thumb pie'ce36 or. 38 ispushed rearwardly again, when the lug 35L will snap. into. the slot 35 and the front end of the contact springwill again breakrontactwith the reflector.

I am aware that various changes may be made in the details ofthe present invention without departing. from thespirit thereof} as definedby appended claims.

I aim; 1. In a hand Meantime lamp, a tubular insulating casing having an opening in the wall thereof, a substantially flat escutcheon covering said opening, a battery and bulb in the casing, and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip within the tubular portion of the casing, and having a part disposed in said casing opening below the escutcheon and having its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of the casing.

2. In a hand lamp, a tubular insulating casing having an opening in the Wall thereof, an escutcheon covering said opening, a battery and bulb in the casing, means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip within the casing, and having a part disposed in said opening with its upper surface substantially flush with that of the casing, and locking means positioned within the casing opening and movable independently of the contact strip to hold the latter in circuit closing position. 7 I

3. In a hand lamp, a tubular insulating casing having an opening in the wall thereof, an escutcheon covering said opening, a battery and bulb in the casing, and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip within the casing, said strip being secured to the escutcheon and having a partdisposed in said casing opening with its upper surface substantially flush with that of the casing.

a. In a hand lamp, a casing provided with an opening, a battery and bulb mounted in the casing, an escutcheon plate mounted on the casing at said opening, and substantially flush with the surface of the casing, a depressible contact strip carried by the escutcheon and having a part disposed within the casingopening, and means including said contact strip, to complete the circuit through the battery and bulb,and means for locking the switch in circuit closing position. 5. In a hand lamp, a casing provided with an opening, a battery and bulb mounted in the casing, an escutcheon plate mounted on the casing at said opening, and substantialiy flush with the surface of the casing, a

depressible contact strip within the casing, having one end secured to said escutcheon, means including said strip to complete the ircuit throughthe battery and bulb, and means movably mounted on the escutcheon for locking the switch in circuit closing po sition.

6. In a hand lamp, tubular casing having an opening in the wall thereof and an escutcheon plate covering the opening, a battery, a bulb support and a light bulb in the casing, and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact member secured at one end to the escutcheon'within said opening, extending along the inner surface of the v. and means casing and adapted to contact at its other end with the bulb support.

7. In a hand lamp, a casing having an opening therein and an escutcheon plate covering said opening, a battery, a reflector and a light bulb mounted within the casing, for completing the circuit through said bulb and battery comprising a contact strip adapted to engage the reflector and secured at one end to the escutcheon and a push button normally fiush with the surface of the casing to depress said strip and close the circuit.

8. In a hand lamp, a tubular casing having an opening in the wall thereof, and a flat escutcheon plate mounted over said opening, a depressible contact strip secured at one end to the escutcheon within said opening and formed with an integral upward projection adapted for manual engagement through an opening in the escutcheon and lying substantially flush with the upper surface of the escutcheon, said contact strip also being formed with a forwardly extending portion adapted to lie closely against the inner surface of the casing.

9. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing having an opening and an escutcheon plate covering said opening. a battery and a reflector mounted within the casing, a lamp bulb having one terminal in connection with the battery and the other terminal electrically connected to the reflector, a contact strip secured at one end to the escutcheon plate and having its other end free and positioned to be depressed into contact with the reflector. means for connecting the other terminal of the battery to the contact strip. and means movable to position between the contact strip and the escutcheon to lock the strip in circuit closing position.

10. In a hand lamp, a casing having an opening therein, an escutcheon plate covering said opening, a battery, a reflector and a light bulb mounted within the casing, and means for electrically connecting the battery and bulb, including a contact strip secured at one end and having its other end in position to be depressed into engagement with the reflector. said contact strip being formed with a push button in position to be manually engaged and a locking member mounted on the escutcheon and slit able to a position between it and the contact strip to lock the latter in circuit closing position.

11. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing provided with an opening, an escutcheon plate covering said opening, a battery and bulb support housed in. the casing, a bulb mounted in said support and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip lying closely adjacent the inner surface of the casing and formed with an upwardly projecting portion extending into the casing opening, and being there connected to the esoutcheon.

12. In a hand lamp, a casing, a battery and light bulb mounted therein, and means for closing the circuit through said battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip formed With a bowed battery positioning portion, said portion serving" as a fulcrum for said strip;

13. In a hand lamp, an insulatingcasing provided With an opening, an escutche'on plate covering said opening, a battery and bulb support housed in the casing, a bulb mounted in said support and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb, including a depressible contact strip lying closely adjacent the inner surface of the" casing and formed with an upwardly" projecting portion extending into the casingopening, said part being manuallyengaga ble through an opening in the escutcheon to depress the contact strip to close the circuit. 7

14. In a batteryhand-lamp, an insulatingcasing: a batterytherein; a reflector mount} ed in one end of said casing: an electric bulb mountedtherein, having one of its terminals electrically connected to one oi'the electrodes of the said battery and the other terminal electrically connected to the said reflector; a conductive member mounted in the said casing and electrically connected with the other electrode of the said battery: and a circuit closing device mounted on the said casing, electrically connected to the said conductive member; said circuit clos= ing device having a pushbutt'on and a spring contact member, adapted to contact With the said reflector When pressure is ap plied tothe said push-button, thereby closing the circuit of thesaid battery through the said bulb; and having means locked against movement While the said spring Contact is in its open circuit position and movable When the said spring contact is in its closed circuitposition to hold the same in suchpos'ition.

15. In a battery hand-lamp, an insulating casing: a battery therein: a reflector mounted in one end of said casing: an electric bulb mounted therein, having one of its terminals electrically connected to one ofthe electrodes of the said battery and the other terminal electrically connected to the said reflector; a conductive member mounted in the said casing: and electrically connected with the other electrode of the said battery: and a circuit closing device mounted on the said casing; electrically connected to the said conductive member; having a puslrbutton and aspring contact member, adapted to contact with the said reflector when pressure is applied to the said push-button, thereby'closing the circuit of the said-battery through the saidbulb';

and having means; locked against movement while the said spring contact is in itsiopen circuit position and movable when the said spring" contact 1s m its closed circuit p061 tlOIl to hold the same in such position, the

said means comprising: a locking member slidably mounted inthe said casing and adapted in one osition to enter a corre spending slot in the saidspr'ingcontact member and in another positifento lie'above said connected-to said reflector the upperelectr-odeof said battery respectively: econ dnctive strip electrically connected tosaid metalcollar, mounted in said casing: an aperture in said casing: escutcheon havingan; opening-- therein mounted over said aperture andelectrically connected tosaid conductive strip spring Contact member, mountedwithin saidcasin'g, rigid ly held at its lower end, electrically conn'ected-to said escutcheon, having a-pushbutton rising-through said opening and'lr'av ing 1 its I free upper end in proximity to but not in contact ivith-said--reflector when said member is inits' normal open Y circuit" posh tion, and adapted-to-be moved against its own tension-When pressure-is appliedto said push-button into contact with said reflector wh reby thecir'euit of said; battery through saidbulb is closed: and-means mounted on saideseutcl i'eon movable, after said contact member has beenm'oved to itscircuit closing position, to hold the same in such po-' sition.

17. In abattery' hand-lamp, ahins'ulati'ng casing; a battery therein; an'electricbulb mounted in a metal support in one endof s'aid'casing, one of the terminalsofthe said bulb being-electrically connected-With the said support and the other terminal of the bulb being electrically connected with one of the electrodes of the said battery: acouductive I member mounted in the said casing and electrically connected with the other electrode of the said battery: and a circuit closing device mounted on the said casing; electrically connected'to the said conductive member; having a push-button, and a spring contact member adapted to contact With the said support when pressure is applied-to the said push-button, therebyclosi-ng the circuit of the said battery through the said bulb; and having means movably mounted Within the casing and adapted to be moved into contact with the upper surface of said spring contact member to hold the latter in circuit closing position.

18. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing having an opening in the lateral surface thereof, and a flat escutcheon plate covering said opening, a battery and reflector and a light bulb Within the casing, and means for completing circuit through said bulb and battery comprising a contact strip to engage the reflector and secured at one end to the escutcheon Within said opening, and a push button normally flush with the surface of the escutcheon to depress said strip to close the circuit.

19. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing having an opening in the Wall thereof, an escutcheon covering said opening, a battery and a bulb mounted Within the casing, and means for electrically connecting the battery and bulb, including a contact strip Within the casing, and secured at one end to the escutcheon and depressible at its other end to close the circuit, said contact strip being formed with a push button to be manually engaged, and a locking member slidable to position between said contact strip and escutcheon to lock the strip in circuit closing position,

20. In a hand lamp, an insulating casing having an opening in the wall thereof, an escutcheon plate covering said opening, a battery and bulb Within the casing, and means to close the circuit through the battery and bulb including a switch device having a depressible contact member within the easing, a push button manually engageable through an opening in the escutcheon and having a slot in its upper face and a locking member carried by said escutcheon and disposed within said slot.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ARTHUR L. STAPLES. Witnesses THOMAS C. JOHNSON, A. P. PAINE. 

